Devils Move up Standings with Win

March 28, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. - With seven of the Albany Devils last nine games at the Times Union Center, the Devils took a step towards the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win against the Rochester Americans Wednesday. The contest was part of a special matinee "School Day" game which featured 3,171 on hand for the 11:30 a.m. start.

Albany (29-28-6-5) moved to a tie for ninth in the Eastern Conference and remains at home this weekend for games against Providence and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

"We talked about getting off to a good start in this home stand," said head coach Rick Kowalsky. "We had to work for that one, but it was a good win."

The Devils trailed 1-0 after two periods because of a T.J Brennan, 5-on-3 goal at 9:22 of the first. However, Eric Gelinas' 16th goal of the season evened the score only 38 seconds into the third. His goal was setup by Tim Sestito and Matt Anderson.

"For us right now, every point is so important," Kowalsky said. "I was happy with the way we played. Our execution - especially in the second period - we had some two-on-ones and potential breakaways that we didn't execute. I told the guys to stick with it, keep getting pucks deep, working the corners and keep throwing pucks on net."

The game-winning goal came off a forced turnover deep in Rochester's end. Steve Zalewski intercepted a pass and roofed a backhand past David Leggio, who was Zalewski's teammate at Clarkson University.

"(Stephen) Gionta and (David) Wohlberg did a good job forechecking and I was just kind of hanging, being up high," Zalewski said. "Their [defenseman] looked up the middle and I read him and was able to pick him off. I just made a quick move on my backhand and put it in."

The tally was Zalewski's team-leading 17th and first since Mar. 10 at Adirondack.

"I thought we did a good job of sticking with our game plan," Zalewski said. "I was able to get another chance in the third and capitalized on that one."

Jeff Frazee began the game in goal and bared the brunt of the work with 19 saves on 20 shots. A high stick midway through the third sent him to the locker room and Keith Kinkaid into the game. He finished with four saves on four shots and earned the win.

"I thought it was a solid game by both teams defensively," Kowalsky said. "I thought we did really good job of not giving up those quality chances."

Leggio's efforts included 32 saves on 34 shots.

Albany's three-game home stand begins Friday when the Providence Bruins arrive for a 7 p.m. contest. Follow the action on ahllive.com.

*****

Notes: Steve Zalewski netted his second game-winning goal of the season. Additionally, the tally was his team-leading 17th, which is five away from tying his career record of 22 during the 2009-10 season with Worcester ... In the first, Rochester's T.J. Brennan moved into a first-place tie with Eric Gelinas for the AHL lead for goals by a defenseman. Gelinas reclaimed sole possession of the top spot with his 16th marker ... After signing an ATO with Albany Tuesday, David Wohlberg made his professional debut ... Dan Kelly returned to the lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury. He was a plus-2 for the game ... Three Stars: 1. Steve Zalewski (ALB), 2. Eric Gelinas (ALB), 3. David Leggio (RCH).



American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2012


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